2 April 2013 (Tuesday) – Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) on 28 March 2013 to work together to enhance the city landscape through planting of forest species, as well as the effective management and maintenance of the urban forests and parks.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib said FRIM’s success in reforesting the Ara Damansara Eco Park and in rehabilitating the ex-mining land in Bidor, Perak, had inspired DBKL to enhance the development and maintenance of the city’s parks and green lungs through such collaboration.

He is confident that the move will lead to the improved skills and quality of services of the City Hall Landscape and Recreation Department through transfer of knowledge and technology.

“In efforts to achieve our dream of (having) ‘World Class Maintenance’ in landscape management, DBKL will apply best practices in this field including in the aspects of planning, project implementation as well as systematic and comprehensive maintenance towards ensuring sustainability for the wellbeing of the rakyat, for economic progress, and for a balanced physical and environmental development,” he said.

FRIM top management officials amongst the invited guests at the signing ceremony.

Ahmad Phesal signed the MOU on behalf of DBKL while FRIM was represented by Director General Dato’ Dr Abd Latif Mohmod. The signing ceremony, held at Menara DBKL, was also attended by the Natural Resources and Environment (NRE) Ministry Deputy Secretary General (Environment), Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Nik; the Ministry of Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Deputy Secretary General (Planning and Development), Dato’ Mohd Jamal Mahussin, dan the DBKL DG, Datuk Salleh Yusup.

The three-year agreement covers two main scopes of collaboration, namely the Park Management and the Urban Forest Management.

The Park Management comprises three categories:

1) Botanical Garden (Taman Botani Perdana), for which the collaboration focuses on the development of the organisational structure for Taman Botani Perdana, herbarium set-up and management, plant collection database, biodiversity studies and diversification of the plant collection;

2) Special Collection Parks (Taman Dusun Bandar & Taman Rimba Bukit Kerinchi), on soil survey, collection of plants and enrichment of the collection in accordance with themes and location of the gardens; and

1) Shade Tree Management, in which the collaboration covers the plant disease and pest control, as well as selection of forest tree species for planting based on suitability of space and soil fertility in efforts to realise the vision of making Kuala Lumpur a sustainable tropical park by 2020;

2) Urban Forest Management, on the application of arboricultural best practices including planting methods, soil quality assessment, early pruning techniques and specific treatment to enhance tree growth; establishing guidelines for tree species selection for private development; and conducting studies on the impact of tree planting in terms of providing shade and aesthetic value.